Wind Field Simulation for Placement of Small Scale Wind Turbines on a College Campus

As part of ongoing activities in wind energy education, Purdue University Calumet will be installing a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) on the roof of an academic campus building. While several potential sites have been identified as feasible, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation has been coupled with virtual reality to assist in assessing the optimal location for the turbine. Using measured data, a wind field was developed taking into account flow distribution around relevant campus buildings. Visualization methods were then used to show wind flow combined with geometric models of buildings and trees on campus. Factors used for the final decision include sustained wind speeds, turbulent flows, and aesthetic look at various roof-top locations.